Research Assessment Exercise

2008 RAE Star Ratings

Quality is rated on a scale from Unclassified to 4 stars; where Unclassified is research that falls below the standard of nationally recognised work and 4 stars signifies world leading research.

RAE Rating Quality Levels

RAE Rating	Description of Quality
4*	Quality that is world-leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour
3*	Quality that is internationally excellent in terms of originality, significance and rigour but which nonetheless falls short of the highest standards of excellence
2*	Quality that is recognised internationally in terms of originality, significance and rigour
1*	Quality that is recognised nationally in terms of originality, significance and rigour
Unclassfied	Quality that falls below the standard of nationally recognised work. Or work which does not meet the published definition of research for the purposes of assessment